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Why are we allowing Kashmir to burn?

There have been several voices of reason begging the Centre and the state of Jammu and Kashmir to remove the elements that are trying to keep the fires of the valley burning. They don’t want peace at any cost because they are in sync with Pakistan.

I point to the Hurriyat, who have been exposed by the National Investigate Agency (NIA) for getting huge sums of money from Pakistan to pay Stone pelters and prevent the security forces from getting to terrorists, who are killing our forces every day.

Would any country allow this? Why is the Central Government not taking the obvious step that everyone has advised? Take the Separatist out of the Valley; lock up Stone pelters; and read a strict Riot Act to the people in the area that either they see to it that their children are not used as human shields or they will be killed if they pelt stones at security forces when an attempt is being made to neutralise the terrorists.

The Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti is playing a wily game by giving around 10,000 Stone pelters amnesty to win votes but giving absolutely no support to the security forces even when they are killed in the mayhem that she has done nothing about for four long years. Schools are burnt. Policemen are killed, the CRPF have a tough time trying to reign in terror attacks but her compassion is with the Stone Pelters not with the dead and maimed of the men who have to face angry young men willing to kill them for keeping the peace.

Yes, Mehbooba and her politics along with her coalition partner the BJP have much to answer for. With voluminous data collected by the NIA, against the local terror groups and their source of funding pointing to the Hurriyat, why are they not in jail?

Why is there not Presidents Rule enacted in the valley where there has been no let up on everyday violence? How much further does the valley have to disintegrate and burn before the Centre takes strong action? How many more men from the Security Forces have to be killed and drastically injured?

How much longer will we blame Pakistan before we get our own house in order? Pakistan wants to create havoc in the valley and make all the Muslims feel insecure and all we have been doing for the last 40 years is securing Pakistan’s narrative.

Yes, we do have layers of security but we bind them by not listening to them. We make their work so much harder and deadly by allowing locals to stone them while shielding terrorists!

How can we ever expect to bring peace to the valley? Why have we not questioned the CM on the deadly double game she is playing by giving amnesty to hardened youth who are only interested in creating havoc and death. They come out in the hundreds and stone tourists and even little children in school buses because their only agenda is an Islamic State. Why else would Islamists who kill at random be given grand funerals? Thousands turn up for the death of a terrorist; but few venture to go for the funerals, when their own are killed fighting the terrorists.

What are we to believe then?

Is it not obvious that we have lost the narrative by appeasement? Just a few people along with fanatical preachers, it seems, have captured the youth, who are willing to kill their own for a cause that they themselves are mixed up about. They don’t want to be a part of Pakistan nor do they want Azaadi as they are confused about what it will mean. What they really want now is an Islamic Caliphate —- can we allow this within our nation? Is it not time to introspect on how we cannot continue a muddled action plan and expect to get different results.

We owe it to our men in uniform who, day in and day out, are faced with two challenges: how to keep the valley secure; how to neutralise terrorists when the civilian population wants to shield them; how to deal with a deadly two-pronged fight.

It is an untenable situation and cannot continue. We cannot and should not allow it too. I urge the central government to step in and take a firm stand. Otherwise, Pakistan wins.

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.

Blog

The blog will cover current issues ranging from politics to pollution — getting readers to question why India is behind in many aspects. Why do countries like China, Thailand, and Malaysia get more tourism, business and investments? Why do Indians blame history, geography or politicians for all our problems? How can Indians be more responsible? India is one of the most undisciplined countries, but when Indians go abroad they are among the most law abiding people. No Free Lunch will try to provoke readers to debate on how Indians can contribute toward building a better country.

Author

Freelance journalist Ashali Varma has authored the biography of her father late Lt. Gen. PS Bhagat — ‘The Victoria Cross: A Love Story’. She was executive producer with the International Commentary Service Inc, New York in 1990. She was the executive publisher of The Earth Times, New York (1992- 98). She has also worked as the editor of Choices Magazine, United Nations Development Programme. She writes on various issues including human rights, population and sustainable development.

Freelance journalist Ashali Varma has authored the biography of her father late Lt. Gen. PS Bhagat — ‘The Victoria Cross: A Love Story’. She was execu. . .

Blog

The blog will cover current issues ranging from politics to pollution — getting readers to question why India is behind in many aspects. Why do countries like China, Thailand, and Malaysia get more tourism, business and investments? Why do Indians blame history, geography or politicians for all our problems? How can Indians be more responsible? India is one of the most undisciplined countries, but when Indians go abroad they are among the most law abiding people. No Free Lunch will try to provoke readers to debate on how Indians can contribute toward building a better country.

Author

Freelance journalist Ashali Varma has authored the biography of her father late Lt. Gen. PS Bhagat — ‘The Victoria Cross: A Love Story’. She was executive producer with the International Commentary Service Inc, New York in 1990. She was the executive publisher of The Earth Times, New York (1992- 98). She has also worked as the editor of Choices Magazine, United Nations Development Programme. She writes on various issues including human rights, population and sustainable development.

Freelance journalist Ashali Varma has authored the biography of her father late Lt. Gen. PS Bhagat — ‘The Victoria Cross: A Love Story’. She was execu. . .